Gas-engine.



C. Gru. SPRADO. GAS ENGINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE '1, 1905.

923,591 Patntd June 1, 1909 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WJTNESSES.- INI/ENTo/e f www ATTORNE Y.

1HE NcRRls PETERS co, wAsnlNuToN, D. c.

C. G. SPRADO.

GAS ENGINE. APPLIO'ATION FILED JUNE 7, 1905.

923,591.v 4 Patnted June 1,1909.

2 EERSTE-SHEET 2,

WITNESSES.- INVENTOR I 4 .i l. 1 l .4 I

I (w f., ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES ,PATENT orrror..

CARL G. SPRADO, OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSICr-NOR TO ALLIS-CHALMERSCOMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS-ENGINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL G. SPRADo, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GasEngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the regulating means of a gas engine, moreespecially to the operating gear for the gas valve, there being separateoperating gear for the main valve, both however being operated by asingle eccentric, as shown; but separate eccentrics may be used.

The object of the invention is to provide a regulating means for gasengines which will insure a good regulation, a constant mixture duringgas admission, namely, the constant proportion of the entering air tothe entering gas, a minimum of back-fires, and a regulation of gasconsumption more nearly proportional to the power the engine isfurnishing.

In the drawings,-Figu're 1 shows a transverse sectional view of theregulating means, parts being shown in elevation, Fig. 2 shows alongitudinal section through a portion of the regulating means; Fig. 3is an enlarged transverse section through the extreme upper portion ofthe regulating means; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectionthrough the valve portion of the regulating means, the adjusting meansfor the mixing valve being brought into the plane of section forconvenience of illustration.

Referring to the drawings ,-the regulating means for the valves ismounted upon the gas engine 1 shown fragmentarily in Figs. 1 and 4. Amain valve 2 is mounted so as to open inwardly, its closed positionbeing shown in Fig. 1, and its open position in Fig. 4. The stem 21 ofthe main valve 2 extends through a suitable guide sleeve 22, mounted inthe valve casing 31. Near the upper end of the stem 21 is mounted apiston guide 23, while its extreme upper end is provided with a bearingseat 24 for a bearing piece 25 the upper side of which is grooved toslidably coact with a lever 26. Lever 26 is pivoted to the frame 27 atone end to swing vertically. The frame 27 supports the valve trippingmeans. Upon the opposite side of the frame 27 is pivoted a rolling lever23 having its lower edge suitably shaped to coact with the upper surfaceof lever 26, and having its opposite end pivotally connected to ,theeccentric rod 29'of the eccentric strap 201 on the eccentric 202 mountedupon the lay shaft 3 geared in any convenlent way to the main shaft, notshown, so as to rotate at half the speed of the main shaft. The pistonguide 23 is mounted to slide vertically in a cylindrical guide 231supported in any convenient way from the frame 27. A spring 232 issupported from the lower end of the cylinder guide 231 and within thesame and bears upwardly against the piston guide 23 so as to maintainthe main valve 2 in losed position when otherwise allowed to o so.

Thus far described the structure is old and well known and is a commonmeans for positively opening the main valve at a given part of the cycleand closing it by a spring at another given part of the cycle. Theeccentric 202 communicates a vibratory motion to the rolling lever 28,which by a cam action communicates a proper vibratory motion to lever26, which in turn operates to positively and quickly open the main valve2 which at other times is closed by action of spring 232.

An annular air chamber 30 is formed in the valve casing 31. Anotherchamber 32, annular in its upper portion 33, is formed in the valvecasing 31, and is surroun ded by the air chamber 30. This chamber 32,together with its annular upper portion 33, forms the mix ing chamber.The entire inner walls of the annular upper extension 33 are lined by anannular mixing valve 34. This mixing valve will be hereinafter morefully described. Also in the valve casing 31 is formed a gas chamber 40.This gas chamber 40 extends downwardly so as to be surrounded by theupper portion 33 of the mixing chamber 32. A plurality of ports 45, 35,extends through the walls'of the valve casing 31 so as to formcommunication leading from the gas chamber 40 and from the air chamber30 to the upper portion 33 of the mixing chamber 32.

A balanced gas valve 50 controls the admission from the gas chamber 40to the ports 45 leading to the mixing chamber. This gas valve 50 isoperated by two stems 51, 51, (see Fig. 2), extending through stuffingboxes 52, 52, in the valve casing 31. This double arrangement of stemfor the gas valve is necessitated by the concentric arrangement of thegas valve 50 to slide upon the guide sleeve 22 for the valve stem 21 ofthe main valve 2. After the stems 51, 51 are extended up beyond theoperating levers 26, 28, for the main valve, they are united by a yolre53. A central rod 551- ezrtends coazfially of the rod 21 above the yole53 and is connected thereto at the iniddle point of the yoke 53. The rod54 extends up through the traine 27 and is guided thereby. A dash piston55 (see 3) is inounted upon the rod 54- and ceacts with a dash pot 551in the fraine 27. The dash piston 55 serves to break the torce of thedown strc-ire of the valve 5G and connected parts. @n the up stroke ofthe gas valve and connected parts, a theolvalve, not shown, breaks thevacuum of dash pot 551. Upon the entr/eine upper end of the rod 54 isine-tinted a dash piston 55. The dash piston 55 coasts with a dash pot551 guided thereby, and serves to cheek the force of the up stroke ofthe gas valve 50 and integrally connected The dash pot 551 may also bevertically guided in the traine 27. n spring 552 is mounted within thedash pot 551,1"esting at its lower end up on an inwardly projecting`4flange attached to the bottoni of the pot, and coacting at its upperend beneath dash piston 55 to niaintain the pisten when possible at itsinnermost position within the pot 551. A spring 553 has a bearing at itsupper end undo neath a portion of the traine 27, and at its lower endrests upon an outwardly extending flange ferined on the lower end of thepot 551. rihe spring 553 tends to force the pot 551 and connected partsin their lowerniost position with reference to the trarne 27. Bothsprings 552 and 563 are spiral compression springs.

The operating trip for the gas valve is mounted upon the upper end ofthe traine 27. A bell crank lever 50 is pivotally inounrod at its angleupon the t yne 27. One end 501 of this bell oranti lever 50 ispivot-allv cennected by ineans ofthe rod 61 te one end 52 (see Fig. l)of lower bell cranl lever nieunted upon the cylinder near the eccentric202, the other end 53 of the lower lever is pivotally connected to rod54, pivotally connected to eccentric strap 201. Upon the other end 602of the bell crank lever 50 is pivotally inounted a` lieolr 65. A droparni 56 is pivotally ineunted upon the trarne coaxially with the pivotalmounting of bell cranlr lever 60. ifi connecting linl 57 pivottllyconnects the drop ann 55 with the upper end of the dash pot 551. Aspring 651 mounted upon the bell cranlr lever 5G tends te hold the hook@5in ooaction with the drop arni 65. A projection552 extends radiallyfreni the hub of hook 65. A manually adjustable trip 655 is mounted uponthe trarne 27 in such a position ,as to coact with the radial projection652 of the hook 65 at a desired point of the cycle.

Thus far described, the operating nieans serves to trip the gas valve toits closed posil l tion. This is done as follows: The rod 61 on itsdoimward course, during a portion of the travel et which both springs553, are placed under compression, actuaies the hell cranl; lever insuch a way that the hochv (35 engaging with the drop arin 65 elevadosthe drop arin (5G to a certain height a which, hy means subsequently tobe described, the gas valve is tripped open by spring 562. llpon acontinued operation of tho rod (i 1 in its downward course spring 553 isl'urthcr conipressed and the drop arm 55 is further rhvated andcontinues to the point where the projection 652 cornes into conhnit withthe stationary trip G52 so that the heel; (i5 will he disengaged tronithe drop arin GG. The spring having been placed in eoinpri'fssion up tothis point, exerts a stress to force the dash pot 551, together th itsspringccnnected parts, including` L gas valve 5u, downwardly, thussuddenly spring` closing the gas valve 50, the motion b cheeked by dashpot 551, as licreinlx.ferc d scribed.

The n eans for tripping the gus valve 5() open are as follows: Upon thelranie 27 is pivotally inountod at ene ond a loyer 70. rlhis leverfurnishes an automatically adjustable fulcruni 71 for a bell crunk loverdu. The fuloruin 71 is mounted en the lover 7l). The other end ol thelever is pivotally eennected by ineans ci rods and loi'ors 7-1, 75, 75,77, te a governor 7S ol" any suitable typo. One arni 81 of the bellcrank lever Si) is formed to coact with a cani surface (i8 iorniod upontir arin 601 el the bell crank lever 6G. The other end S2 ol bell cravor 8O is pivotally connected by ineens ol' rod 83 to an arin 91 ol abell cranlf; lever El() inounted within traine 27 upon pins 153, 92.3,Fig. 2. Bell crank lover i d-fuiblc in forni at its place el pivotalsupport so to avoid interference with the stein about which it ismounted. he other end $2 el liell cranl.' lover 90 is forined to tripthe yolc 53 con-- nectirig ste-nis 51, 51, of the gas valve 5() withsteni The operation of the means for tripping the gas valve 50 open isas follows: llpon thc dosocnt of the rod 61 in its course, the cainsurface G8 of the bell cranl; lover G() will corne into contact with thearniSl of the hell cranlf. lever SO so as to vibrate the latter aboutits automatically adjustable fulcruin 71. This vibration of the bellcrank lever 8O will cause a corresponding upward vibration ci the arni91 of the bell cranl; lever S0 through their connecting rod 83. Theupward vibration ol the arni 91 corresponds to an outward vibration ofthe arni 92, causing the latter' to trip the yole 53 so as to allow theyole 53, together with its integral connections, the stems 54, 51, 51and the gas valve 50, to be inoved upwardly, being actuated by thespring 552 acting upon the dash piston 56 mounted upon the upper end ofrod 5-1. The spring 562 up to the tinie of tripping had lill) beenplaced in compression by the downward movement of rod 61 acting throughbell crank lever 60, hook 65, drop arm 66, link 67, and dash pot 561, topress upwardly on spring 562, the upper end being held by the piston 56,rod 54, yoke 53, and arm 92.

The automatically adjustable fulcrum 71 assumes a position determined bythe operation of the governor 78, thus regulating auto matically thepoint in the cycle at which the cam surface 68 contacts with the arm 81so as to cause a tripping 0H between the arm 92 and the yoke 53, andallow the gas valve to be quickly spring-opened. There is thus provideda regulating means which operates automatically to suddenly open the gasvalve at various points of the cycle according to the speed, and whichactuates to suddenly close the gas valve at a constant point of thecycle predetermined by manual adjustment of the trip 653.

The mixing valve 34, as above described, lines the walls of the annularupper extension 33 of the mixing chamber 32. Its cylindrical walls haveperforations 341, 342, arranged to be registrable with ports 35 and 45in the walls of the valve casing 31. The mixing valve 34 is manuallyadjusted by having externally formed thereon, or attached thereto, atits lower end a segmental gear strip 343. A worm gear 344, (see Fig. 4)is mounted in the valve casing 31 so as to gear with the segmental strip343 and also with a manually operable worm 345 mounted in the casing andhaving an end, not shown, projecting through the casing for manual ma niulation.

n accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleof o eration of the invention has been described), together with theapparatus which is now considered to represent the best embodimentthereof; but it is desired to be understood that the apparatus shown ismerely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by othermeans.

1. In a gas engine the combination of a gas valve, automaticallycontrolled means for tripping the valve open at any point of the inletstroke, and means for tri ping the valve shut at a constant point ofpthe same stroke.

2. In a gas engine, a gasvalve, means for spring tripping the valve openand means for spring tripping the valve s ut later than, but during thesame stroke in which the valve is tripped open.

3. In a gas engine, a gas valve, an automatically regulated trip foropening the valve and a manually regulated trip for closing the valve.

4. In a gas engine, the combination of a main valve, means for operatingthe valve, a gas valve, and separate operating means for the valvecomprising governor controlled means for tripping the valve open at anypoint of the inlet stroke and means for tri ping the valve shut at aconstant point of tliie same stroke.

5. In a gas engine, a main valve, means for operating the valve, a gasvalve, and separate operating means for the gas valve comprisingautomatically regulated means for tripping the valve open and a manuallyregulatcd means for tripping the valve shut.

6. In a gas engine, a main valve, means for operating the valve, amixing valve, a gas valve, and operating means for the gas valvecomprising means for trip ing the valve open and means for tripping t evalve shut.

7. In a gas engine, a main valve, operating means therefor, a mixingvalve, manual adjusting means therefor, a gas valve, and separateoperating means therefor comprising automatically regulated means fortripping the valve open and a manually regulated means for tripping thevalve shut.

8. In a gas engine, a gas valve, means for tripping the' valve open,means for tripping the valve shut, and means for preventing concussionof parts at the end of opening and closing.

9. The combination in an engine, of a valve, means for tripping saidvalve open, means for tripping said valve shut, and means for simutaneously energizing the said tri ping means.

n testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL G. SPRADO.

Witnesses:

JOHN DAY, Jr. R. M. STONE.

